Nigeria Gives 1.5M Mothers Free Healthcare This Week

Cross River State in Nigeria is rolling out the red carpet for mothers and children this week with completely free healthcare services reaching across all 18 local government areas.

The Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week runs June 11-15 and targets 1.5 million people. Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, wife of the state governor, kicked off the campaign by personally administering vaccines and handing out healthcare packs to families in Calabar.

Parents can bring children up to 15 months old for routine immunizations at no cost. Nine-year-old girls will receive the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer later in life.

Pregnant women get malaria prevention medication, iron supplements, and folic acid tablets to prevent anemia. The program also includes free HIV and tuberculosis screening, testing, and counseling for anyone who needs it.

Dr. Henry Ayuk, the state's Health Commissioner, shared impressive numbers showing these outreach programs really work. In 2025, hospitals recorded 400,000 outpatient visits, and nearly 20 percent came directly from community outreach initiatives like this one.

"A healthy child is the foundation of a healthy community, and a healthy mother is the strength of a healthy nation," Bishop Otu told gathered families. She urged parents and caregivers to take full advantage of every service being offered.

The Ripple Effect

The campaign represents more than just a week of free healthcare. It shows what happens when governments invest in preventable care instead of waiting for emergencies.

Dr. Vivien Mesembe Otu, who leads the state's Primary Health Care Development Agency, said the program specifically targets health challenges that still affect too many families. Representatives from WHO, UNICEF, and national health agencies all praised Cross River State for funding the initiative and making it happen.

The World Health Organization's Dr. Rebecca Olatunde emphasized reaching hard-to-reach communities and collecting accurate data to measure real impact. That means counting every mother reached and every life protected through these interventions.

Health officials across the board expressed confidence that this week will dramatically improve immunization coverage and maternal health outcomes for thousands of women and children throughout the state.

Free healthcare reaching 1.5 million people in one week proves that protecting families doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.